April 13: After celebrating 10th anniversary at RAI Amsterdam in November, 2018, the two- day Exhibition is ready to enter China, hosting a similar Exhibition christened as WBWE Asia in Yantai (Shandong) at the Yantai International Expo Center on May 30-31, with more than 130 wineries from 17 countries participating and buyers expected from China and across Asia, writes Subhash Arora who has been visiting the Show in Amsterdam for several years and finds it a unique Show focusing on 40% of world wine business
A wide range of companies from Chile, Spain, Italy, France and South Africa, as well as state delegations with wineries from Argentina and Moldavia, and producers from Australia, Portugal, Ukraine, Georgia, Macedonia, Romania, Uruguay, UK, USA and of course, China will take part as exhibitors in the maiden edition of the World Bulk Wine Exhibition (WBWE) Asia.
WBWE has been one of the most successful and innovative wine shows in the recent history helping billions of Euros of business in bulk wine conducted over the last 10 years, making it an important rendezvous for both the producers, buyers and brokers throughout the wine producing regions. Unknown to most, India has also been importing bulk wine in the form of private labels through some of these participants, though the volumes have been naturally very low.
One had seen an increasing number of Chinese buyers at the Show over the last several years. One of the main reasons shared by them was the discovery of different grape varietals and it helped them source interesting varietals to the country that was slowly getting bored with the same international grapes (read Bordeaux). China is currently the fifth largest wine importer.
“China is right now the fifth wine importer worldwide and has the potential to become the top global bulk wine operator. Therefore, its strategic importance for companies from across the world that would like to position and increase the possibilities of their bulk wines, liquors and private labels in one of the world’s most promising markets will increase," said Wsana Woo, the WBWE delegate for China at the 10th anniversary Show at Amsterdam last November.
Otlilia Romero de Condés, CEO of WBWE says, "World Bulk Wine Exhibition in China aims to become the commercial meeting point among international producers and Chinese importers who need to satisfy the increasingly huge demand from Chinese wine consumers,” Besides buyers from China, several Asian buyers including from Korea, Japan and Taiwan have been also invited to attend.
Yantai-the City of Wine
But why Yantai, one may ask? Yantai is China’s City of Wine and the country’s most important port of entry for bulk wine. The port town is located in the eastern province of Shandong- the coastal province of China and a part of the East China Region, with Yellow River as one of its borders. Shandong is one of the top populous and affluent provinces of China today.
The City of Wine is a wine-centric theme park, Changyu operated by Disney. The coastal city has pleasant climate, tourism facilities and leisure areas, a golf course, exhibition grounds and hospitality areas that are ideal for carrying out a business event like this one. With direct flights from Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong, and presence of some of the most important and prestigious wineries of China, makes it an ideal venue for a world-class wine show of this kind.
Not business alone
WBWE Asia will have three differentiated areas devoted to Business, Technical and wine expertise and Tasting sessions. In addition, there will be a fine-products area, international culinary demonstrations and areas devoted to gastronomy. There will be Music, food trucks, art and much more that will be revealed in the Curtain Raiser, close to the inauguration of the reportedly first-ever bulk wine show in Asia
For the statistics- inclined people, 82% of the bulk wine imported by China comes through Shandong with 96% of such wines entering through the port of Yantai, according to the figures released by the Chinese government. This makes the city extremely important for the bulk wine sector.
Face-to-face meetings, talks and keynote lectures, key points in order to enhance the business possibilities carried out by the country’s experts, sessions focused on revealing the required rules and limitations for brands and Designations of Origin and keys to market success are a few of the opportunities WBWE Asia will provide.
More details at https://www.worldbulkwine.com/en/
For related earlier Articles, please click
WBWE 2018: A Decade of Promoting Global Bulk Wine Successfully
WBWE 2018: RAI Amsterdam to Yantai China in 10 years
Subhash Arora
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